Mediated Reality: University of Toronto RWM Project

Dr. Mann describes his WearComp (“Wearable Computer”) invention as a tool for “Mediated Reality”. WearComp originated in the context of photographic tools as true extensions of the mind and body and evolved into a philosophical basis for self-determination, characteristic of the Linux operating system that runs on WearComp.

The VideoOrbits Head Tracker

Of course, one cannot expect a head-tracking device to be
provided in all possible environments, so head tracking is done by
the reality mediator, using the VideoOrbits (see Resources 3)
tracking algorithm. (The VideoOrbits package upon which RWM is
based is freely available at http://wearcam.org/orbits/index.html.)
The VideoOrbits head tracker does head tracking based on a visually
observed environment, yet works without the need for high-level
object recognition.

VideoOrbits builds upon the tradition of image processing
(see Resources 4 and 5) combined with the Horn and Schunk equations
(see Resources 6) and some new ideas in algebraic projective
geometry and homometric imaging, using a spatiotonal model, p, that
works in the neighborhood of the identity:

where øT =
[Fx(xy,
x, y, 1),
Fy(xy,
x, y, 1),
F, 1],
F(x,t)
=
f(q(x))
at time t,
Fx(x,t)
=
(df/dq)(dq(x)/dx),
at time t, and
Ft(x,t)
is the difference of adjacent frames. This “approximate model” is
used in the innermost loop of a repetitive process, then related to
the parameters of an exact projectivity and gain group of
transformations, so that the true group structure is preserved
throughout. In this way, virtual objects inserted into the
“reality stream” of the person wearing the glasses, follow the
orbit of this group of transformations, hence the name
VideoOrbits.

A quantagraphic version of VideoOrbits is also based on the
fact that the unknown nonlinearity of the camera,
f, can be obtained from differently exposed
images f(q) and
f(kq), etc., and that
these can be combined to estimate the actual quantity of light
entering the imaging system:

where ci is the derivative of the
recovered nonlinear response function of the camera,
f, and A,
b and c are the
parameters of the true projective coordinate transformation of the
light falling on the image sensor. This method allows the actual
quantity of light entering the reality mediator to be determined.
In this way, the reality mediator absorbs and truly quantifies the
rays of light entering it. Moreover, light rays entering the eye
due to the real and virtual objects are placed on an equal
footing.

The New Business Opportunity in Mediated
Reality

MR sets forth a new computational framework in which the
visual interpretation of reality is finely customized to the needs
of each individual wearer of the apparatus. The computer becomes
very much like a prosthetic device or like prescription eyeglasses.
Just as you would not want to wear undergarments or another
person's mouth guard, you may not want to find yourself wearing
another person's computer.

The traditional paradigm of one worldwide software vendor
providing everyone with identical copies of an executable-only
distribution no longer applies. Instead, complete reconfigurability
is needed and each user will customize his or her own environment.
Since many laypersons are not well-versed in operating system,
kernel source code, a need will grow for system administrators and
consultants.

In the future, software will be free and users will buy
support. There will be little problem with software piracy, both
because the software will be free and because a version of the
software customized for one person will be of less use to someone
with different needs. Because the computer will function as a true
extension of the user's mind and body, it would not do the user
well to ingest software owned by someone else. The computer will
function much like a “second brain”, and in the true spirit of
freedom of thought, it would be preferable that any commercial
interests in the customization and contents of one's “second
brain” be a work for hire (e.g., an interaction in which the end
user owns the rights) rather than a software purchase. Thus, there
will be an exponentially growing need for personal system
administrators as new people enter the community of connected,
collective, humanistic intelligence.

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